Welcome to Bimmerfest -- The #1 Online Community for BMW related information! Please enjoy the discussion forums below and share your experiences with the 200,000 current, new and past BMW owners. The forums are broken out by car model and into other special interest sections such as BMW European Delivery and a special forum to voice your questions to the many BMW dealers on the site to assist our members!

The only time I'll have to deal with snow in my M3 is when I drive to Tahoe, Mammoth or Big Bear to go snowboarding once in a while so I don't plan buy a 2nd set of rims or snow tires. In fact, I've been able to get by in my lowered G35 with 275 width rear summer tires with no problems until recently.

On my last trip, the roads weren't as clear as stated, and while chains weren't mandatory, most cars had them while I slid around the road and got stuck for a while.

Does anyone have any recommendations of chains or cables that will fit on the M3 sedan with the 19" wheels, won't have clearance issues, and won't scratch up the rims? I'd like to have a set ready to go just in case I'm in a situation like that again.

Update: Here's an answer to my own question, more than a year later. Since no one replied to my post, I figured there might a lack of knowledge on this point.

After looking around, the SCC Super Z6 snow cable seems to be the best choice for me. It's low profile (only 6.3 mm of clearance required), and on my second try (though it was my first attempt after reading the instructions ), it took me less than 2 minutes per tire. Cost is about $78.

I'm using them with my snow tires, which are 235/40 R18s. According to a tire size calculator online, the radius of the snow tires is 12.7 inches vs. 13.2 inches of the stock 19s. The difference is 0.5 inch, which is 12.7 mm. Since I'm only adding 6.3 mm to the radius, I should be doing fine.

But, obviously, there are calculations on a computer... and there is real world testing.

I haven't tried them in the snow yet, but I drove down the street a bit with them on. I couldn't hear any rubbing or scraping. I've included the best pics I could.

I haven't tried them in the snow yet, but I drove down the street a bit with them on. I couldn't hear any rubbing or scraping. I've included the best pics I could.

In the fourth pic, it looks like one of the sections is loose. Did you tighten again after driving a few feet?

In a previous car, I used chains on all the wheels. I practiced quite a bit in a dry parking lot. When it came to putting it on, it was snowing, and the car was half-buried. I needed a shovel to clear the snow around the tires first (which I had). Putting it on was semi-disgusting (sludge all over the wheels). Taking it off later was uber more disgusting (sludge now also all over the chains). Gloves would be helpful (which I had). Also, unless you intend to wash the chains by the roadside, or dirty your trunk, I suggest having plastic bags or containers in there to put the now-sludgy chains in.

My chains also started rusting after that one time. Not too badly, but I don't think they'll last too long...

In the fourth pic, it looks like one of the sections is loose. Did you tighten again after driving a few feet?

In a previous car, I used chains on all the wheels. I practiced quite a bit in a dry parking lot. When it came to putting it on, it was snowing, and the car was half-buried. I needed a shovel to clear the snow around the tires first (which I had). Putting it on was semi-disgusting (sludge all over the wheels). Taking it off later was uber more disgusting (sludge now also all over the chains). Gloves would be helpful (which I had). Also, unless you intend to wash the chains by the roadside, or dirty your trunk, I suggest having plastic bags or containers in there to put the now-sludgy chains in.

My chains also started rusting after that one time. Not too badly, but I don't think they'll last too long...

They are self-tightening (or so they claim) with the tensioners. I hadn't moved before taking the pics, but they looked better after driving a bit down the street.

Yeah, I'll a few pairs of gloves with me, and I have a bag to store the chains in.

Level 1) RWD/FWD with chains installed OR Must have AWD with snow tires (and chains installed or at least in your car). Most of the time, they don't actually check to see if your AWD actually has snow tires, but that's the reg...

Level 2) AWD with snow tires and chains installed (many roads are closed at this point)

Level 3) Everything is closed. Period.

I'm actually leaving to SF today and it's 75F & sunny here in LA, and will only get hotter as I pass through central CA. I hope my tires don't melt on the way there!

But, snow is expected for the weekend in Tahoe, so I'll let you know if I "get" to use them. The chance of needing them in any given season is small, but if when they are required it's really hard to find low profile chains at the last minute AND they all charge ridiculous prices...

Cliffjumper - I live in NM, like to do tours through the high country of Arizona, Utah, & Colorado year-round in my 2011 E92, stock 18" wheels. One MUST be prepared to deal with seriously bad snowpacked & icy road conditions that can develop with little or no warning. What has been your experience with those SCC Super Z6's? Thanks.

I just recently bought a set of Thule Summit K34s for the 19" M3 tires (rear.) I did a test fit (there's virtually no clearance on this car but this is the only set I see made for this setup which is why they're $300+ per set) and it worked fine but haven't had a chance to try them in the wild yet (and hope not to!)

Thanks, rdollie. K34's are apparently the same size I need for my 18" wheels, so I'll start checking around. They're currently $379 on Amazon. It's funny...I drove my 1969 GT6+ and 1972 2002tii through many Colorado high-country winters, without doing more than making sure the Michelin radials were in good shape. Never bothered with snow tires, chains, shovels, sand etc., and never needed them, and only ended up in the ditch one time. Maybe it was the stoopidity of youth. Whatever, now I'm feeling like I want to be prepared for the worst, rather than muddling my way through it. Anyway, here's hoping Snoqualmie Pass never causes you problems!

Hi Mathbiologist. I must admit I'm still driving around on my summer performance tires with no problems so far (I test my traction every trip when I find a safe area to do so.) No way I'm taking this car up Snoqualmie Pass this time of the year though! (I'll use the Mrs' Volvo XC90 V8 or my diesel 4x4 Superduty before I'll ever consider taking the M into known snow.)

To see the Thule Summit K34s in action (and see why they can't scratch your wheels) look here:

Quote:

Originally Posted by CliffJumper

Update: Here's an answer to my own question, more than a year later. Since no one replied to my post, I figured there might a lack of knowledge on this point.

After looking around, the SCC Super Z6 snow cable seems to be the best choice for me. It's low profile (only 6.3 mm of clearance required), and on my second try (though it was my first attempt after reading the instructions ), it took me less than 2 minutes per tire. Cost is about $78.

I'm using them with my snow tires, which are 235/40 R18s. According to a tire size calculator online, the radius of the snow tires is 12.7 inches vs. 13.2 inches of the stock 19s. The difference is 0.5 inch, which is 12.7 mm. Since I'm only adding 6.3 mm to the radius, I should be doing fine.

But, obviously, there are calculations on a computer... and there is real world testing.

I haven't tried them in the snow yet, but I drove down the street a bit with them on. I couldn't hear any rubbing or scraping. I've included the best pics I could.

I've only had to use them a couple times, but both times they were great. I'm not going to claim that the chains suddenly gave me super traction, but I never got stuck and they didn't scratch up my wheels.

BTW, don't forget to put your car in M-Dynamic Mode when you have your chains on; works much better that way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mathbiologist

Cliffjumper - I live in NM, like to do tours through the high country of Arizona, Utah, & Colorado year-round in my 2011 E92, stock 18" wheels. One MUST be prepared to deal with seriously bad snowpacked & icy road conditions that can develop with little or no warning. What has been your experience with those SCC Super Z6's? Thanks.

Update: Here's an answer to my own question, more than a year later. Since no one replied to my post, I figured there might a lack of knowledge on this point.

After looking around, the SCC Super Z6 snow cable seems to be the best choice for me. It's low profile (only 6.3 mm of clearance required), and on my second try (though it was my first attempt after reading the instructions ), it took me less than 2 minutes per tire. Cost is about $78.

I'm using them with my snow tires, which are 235/40 R18s. According to a tire size calculator online, the radius of the snow tires is 12.7 inches vs. 13.2 inches of the stock 19s. The difference is 0.5 inch, which is 12.7 mm. Since I'm only adding 6.3 mm to the radius, I should be doing fine.

But, obviously, there are calculations on a computer... and there is real world testing.

I haven't tried them in the snow yet, but I drove down the street a bit with them on. I couldn't hear any rubbing or scraping. I've included the best pics I could.

Thank you for these detailed photos. They really help in making my purchasing decisions on the snow chains. It's really a pain to buy chains for low clearance wheel wells.

Thank you for these detailed photos. They really help in making my purchasing decisions on the snow chains. It's really a pain to buy chains for low clearance wheel wells.

Sure, that's what these forums are all about. I've certainly contributed a lot less than what I've gotten out of Bimmerfest. Now that I don't own any BMWs, I've realized even more how much better Bimmerfest is compared to other car forums (Audi/Mercedes).

Get scc z-cable chains, they are are made low low profile cars with little clearence. Ihad a passat wagon lowered on coilovers. I had regular chains i used before lowering but after lowering it regular chains would not fit.. I found the z-chains and havent looked back. Gets me up the wnow covered mountain to snowboard. Now i have the 99 528iT sport package suspension. With 20x9.5" bbs rx. Found a brand new set of scc z-cables on craigslist for $15 and they fit and dont hit the fender wells. Get scc z-cables. They get the job done. You can thank me later

I've only had to use them a couple times, but both times they were great. I'm not going to claim that the chains suddenly gave me super traction, but I never got stuck and they didn't scratch up my wheels.

Visiting from the E39 forum. I drive an 00 528i w/OEM sport suspension - I live in SoCal and would like to do some travel to the Eastern Sierras, potentially as far as Tahoe (via 395) - maybe 2-3 trips per winter season. Looking for some advice re: chains and/or tires.

I own two sets of wheels/tires-
- 235/45/17 Conti DW (summer tires) - these are on the car year round.
- 225/55/16 Yoko YK580 (all season)- no longer in use